| Hummingbirds are a joy for a birdwatcher to observe. | | | | they move from flower to flower, they help the |
| They are found only in the Western Hemisphere, from | | | | flowers to reproduce. |
| as far north as Southeastern Alaska and the | | | | Hummingbirds have little or no sense of smell, so colour |
| Maritimes of Canada and as far south as Southern | | | | is important to a hummingbird's search process for |
| Chile. There are approximately 350 species of | | | | locating flowers containing nectar. While they will visit |
| hummingbirds with 320 species found in the tropics. | | | | any flower that has sufficient nectar they prefer |
| Within the family of hummingbirds is found the smallest | | | | flowers that are red to orange in colour. It is believed |
| bird in the world, the Bee Hummingbird of Cuba at 2.17 | | | | that there are several reasons for this colour |
| inches (5.5 cm) and weight 1.95gm (0.07 oz). | | | | preference. Red flowers standout in a green |
| Hummingbirds range in size from 2 inches to 8 inches. | | | | background and so are more easily seen by the |
| The hummingbird derives its name from the humming | | | | hummingbird. It is also believed that because |
| sound that is produced by its rapid wingbeat. Generally | | | | hummingbirds compete with insects for nectar they |
| the wingbeat is so rapid that the individual only sees a | | | | choose flowers that are less likely to be visited by |
| blur as most of these birds flap their wings about 50 | | | | insects. Most insects do not see well at the red end of |
| times per second. The speed of the wingbeat | | | | the colour spectrum and so may not visit red flowers |
| depends on the size of the bird, the largest the Giant | | | | while hummingbirds see the full visible spectrum. |
| Hummingbird, has a wingbeat rate of 10-15 times per | | | | Hummingbirds also need protein in order to build |
| second. The fastest recorded rate was about 80 | | | | muscles, so they eat insects. They prefer to feed on |
| times per second, on a tiny Amethyst Woodstar, and | | | | small spiders and slow-flying insects such as gnats, |
| the slightly smaller Bee Hummingbird - the world's | | | | small wasps and leafhoppers, which are rather |
| smallest bird - may have an even faster rate. A | | | | buoyant in air and easy to catch. They also probe the |
| hummingbird's wing is flexible at the shoulder, but | | | | bark and foliage for insects such as aphids, spiders, |
| inflexible at the wrist, this enables them to fly in many | | | | caterpillars and insect eggs. It is believed that up to |
| different directions. They can fly right, left, up, down, | | | | one-half of their diet is made up of small insects. |
| backwards and even upside down. To move away | | | | Hummingbirds are capable of living for extended |
| from the flowers on which they feed hummingbirds fly | | | | periods without nectar as a component of their diet. |
| backwards and are the only bird able to fly | | | | They can quickly convert fat reserves and recently |
| backwards. While other birds get their flight power | | | | ingested insects to energy when deprived of nectar. |
| from the downstroke only, hummingbirds also have | | | | Hummingbirds compete for nectar and insects and so |
| strength on the up-stroke. Though they fly very fast, | | | | they develop territories, which they guard aggressively. |
| they can suddenly stop and make a soft landing. They | | | | They will fight with other hummingbirds that enter their |
| are so light they do not build up much momentum. | | | | territory but serious harm is seldom inflicted during |
| Hummingbirds have poorly developed feet, so that | | | | these fights. Also when food sources are scarce they |
| although they are able to perch and will do so when | | | | fight to protect their source. |
| feeding or resting, they do not walk. In order to move, | | | | Most hummingbirds are green except hermits, which |
| even along a branch, they fly. Hummingbirds lift from | | | | are mainly brown, and are known for the iridescence. |
| perches without pushing off; they rise entirely on their | | | | These brilliant, iridescent colors of the hummingbird |
| own power, flapping their wings at almost full speed | | | | plumage are caused by the refraction of incident light |
| before lifting off. Hummingbirds sleep perched on | | | | by the structures of certain feathers. These structures |
| branches with their neck retracted and their head | | | | split light into its component colors, and only certain |
| forward, the bill pointed up at a sharp angle, and the | | | | frequencies are refracted back to the viewer. The |
| feathers fluffed. | | | | brown colour in some hummingbirds is the result |
| It is believed that hummingbirds live for only 3 to 4 | | | | however of pigmentation. Hummingbirds groom |
| years. They have a fast heartbeat with a rate of 1260 | | | | themselves with their bills and claws, using oil from a |
| beats per minute having been measured in a | | | | gland near their tail. They also use their claws like a |
| Blue-throated Hummingbird. In torpid hummingbirds, the | | | | comb to groom their heads and necks. They sunbathe |
| heart rate can drop to 50-180 per minute. Their fast | | | | positioning their breast towards the sun and fluffing out, |
| heart rate and rapid wing motion require them to feed | | | | extending their neck and spreading their tail. |
| regularly throughout the day. It is reported that they | | | | Hummingbirds also take water baths using the water in |
| must feed every 10 minutes and they may consume 2 | | | | shallow pools or cupped leaves. They flutter their |
| 3 of their body weight in a single day. A major part of | | | | wings or pull them straight back while lifting and |
| a hummingbird's diet is the nectar they obtain from | | | | spreading their tail; they dip their chins and bellies into |
| flowers and their bills are perfectly adapted to the | | | | the water. At times they can be seen sitting on a bare |
| various types of flowers that they feed on. Some | | | | branch allowing the rain to soak through to their skin. |
| hummingbirds have especially curved or elongated bills | | | | After bathing they will preen and dry their feathers. |
| that allow them to feed on special flowers, eg the | | | | Hummingbirds build cup shaped nests, however hermits |
| White-tipped Sicklebill hummingbird whose downward | | | | build long hanging nests usually attached to foliage. |
| curving bill allows it to draw nectar from heliconias. The | | | | Male hummingbirds do not contribute to the building of |
| Ruby-Topaz Hummingbird has a short and slightly | | | | nests or the care of young. All feeding is therefore left |
| decurved bill that is suited to feeding on the flowers of | | | | to the female. When feeding the female perches on |
| the ixora shrub. The Blue-tailed Emerald has a short bill | | | | the side of the nest, arches her back, stretches her |
| that is suited for feeding on the Hibiscus flower. the | | | | neck, lifts her head, and holds her bill down to |
| Copper-rumped Hummingbird has a straight long bill | | | | regurgitate nectar and half-digested insects to her |
| that allows it to feed on medium sized tube shaped | | | | babies. Her throat swells and she pumps her beak like |
| flowers such as the Allamanda. In feeding, | | | | a sewing needle. |
| hummingbirds use their tongue to lap the nectar in a | | | | Although various larger birds, snakes, and mammals |
| similar manner to cats lapping milk. Their tongue can | | | | raid hummingbird nests for eggs and chicks, this is not |
| extend a distance equal to their beak length. As they | | | | a major cause of death. |
| feed hummingbirds accidentally collect pollen and as | | | | |